What a Slip, Slip, Knit Decrease Does

A slip, slip, knit (SSK) decrease removes one stitch from your needle and leans the remaining stitches to the left. You slip two stitches one at a time, then knit them together through their back loops. The result is a single stitch that sits on your right needle, and your stitch count drops by one.

SSK is one of two main left-leaning decreases in knitting—the other is a knit two together through the back loop (K2tog tbl). Most knitters use SSK because it feels more natural once you learn the motion, and it pairs visually with right-leaning decreases like K2tog when you're shaping a garment symmetrically.

Key Takeaways

  • Slip two stitches knitwise one at a time, then insert your left needle through both from left to right and knit them together.
  • The stitch leans left on your fabric, which makes it useful for balanced shaping on the left side of a neckline or armhole.
  • A common mistake is slipping the stitches purlwise instead of knitwise, which twists them and changes how they sit.
  • Practice the motion slowly on a swatch before using it in a pattern—muscle memory makes the decrease smooth and even.

How to Slip the First Two Stitches

Start with your working yarn in back and your left needle holding your stitches. Insert your right needle through the first stitch on your left needle from left to right, as if you were going to knit it. Instead of wrapping yarn and pulling through, straightforward slide the stitch off your left needle and onto your right needle. The stitch should sit on your right needle unworked.

Repeat this motion with the second stitch on your left needle. Now you have two slipped stitches sitting on your right needle, and both are twisted slightly because you slipped them knitwise. This twist is intentional—it sets up the decrease to lean left when you complete it.

Inserting Your Left Needle and Knitting Together

Take your left needle and insert it through both slipped stitches from left to right—meaning the tip of your left needle goes in from the front of the stitches and comes out the back. You are now looking at the back loops of both stitches. This is the position that creates the left lean.

Wrap your working yarn around your right needle as if you were knitting normally, then pull the yarn through both stitches at once. Slide both stitches off your left needle. You now have one new stitch on your right needle, and your total stitch count has decreased by one.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

The most frequent error is slipping the stitches purlwise instead of knitwise. If you insert your needle from right to left (as if to purl), the stitches will twist the opposite direction, and your decrease will lean right instead of left. Always insert from left to right when you slip for an SSK.

Another mistake is forgetting to insert your left needle through the back loops. If you knit through the front loops instead, the decrease will sit flat and lose its directional lean. The back loop insertion is what makes SSK visually distinct from other decreases.

Some knitters also rush the motion and accidentally knit the stitches separately instead of together. Slow down and make sure both stitches come off your left needle in a single motion. If only one stitch comes off, you have not completed the decrease.

Practicing on a Swatch Before Your Project

Knit a small practice swatch in the yarn and needles you plan to use for your project. Cast on 15 to 20 stitches and knit 10 rows in stockinette stitch (knit on the right side, purl on the wrong side). On row 11, knit 5 stitches, then work an SSK, then knit the remaining stitches to the end of the row.

Knit 5 more rows without decreasing. Look at where your SSK sits on the fabric. The stitch should lean clearly to the left, and the column of stitches should look smooth and even. If the stitch looks twisted or uneven, go back and check your slip direction and your left needle insertion. Repeat the decrease a few more times until the motion feels natural.

Using SSK in Shaping and Decreases

SSK appears most often in patterns where you need a left-leaning decrease. Common places include the left side of a V-neck, the left side of an armhole, or the left edge of a sleeve cap. When you pair SSK on the left side with K2tog on the right side, the decreases mirror each other and create balanced, professional-looking shaping.

Patterns usually tell you exactly where to work the SSK. If a pattern says "SSK at the beginning of the row," work it as one of your first stitches. If it says "SSK 2 stitches before the end," count back from the end and work it there. Always work the decrease on a knit row (the right side of stockinette), unless your pattern specifies otherwise.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between SSK and K2tog?

SSK leans left; K2tog leans right. Both remove one stitch, but they create opposite directional effects on your fabric. Use SSK on the left side of shaping and K2tog on the right side to make your decreases look balanced and intentional.

Can I use SSK on a purl row?

Yes, but the motion changes. On a purl row, you slip two stitches purlwise, insert your left needle through the front loops, and purl them together. This creates a left-leaning decrease on the wrong side of your fabric, which appears as a right-leaning decrease on the right side.

What if I slip the stitches purlwise by accident?

Your decrease will lean right instead of left. If you notice this after you have finished the row, you can either frog (rip out) back to that point and redo it, or accept it as a learning moment and focus on the correct slip direction in your next attempt. Most knitters make this mistake at least once.

Does SSK work with all yarn weights?

Yes. The motion is the same whether you are working with fingering-weight yarn or bulky yarn. Thicker yarn may make the stitch sit less neatly, but the decrease will still lean left and function correctly in your shaping.

How do I know if my SSK is too tight or too loose?

The stitch should sit on your needle at roughly the same tension as the stitches around it. If it is much tighter, you may be pulling the yarn too hard after you knit through the back loops. If it is much looser, you may not be pulling the yarn tight enough. Adjust your tension slightly and try again on your next decrease.